AutoPilot Modules provide a further streamlined option for automating common laboratory tasks. With minimum user input, or direct integration with your LIMS, AutoPilot will autonomously direct the automation of these complex procedures.

Serial Dilution: Performing serial dilutions is a common and necessary procedure for a wide variety of scientific laboratory tasks, from carrying out complex Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic analyses to simple titrations of phage or buffers. Performing serial dilutions manually is a repetitive and often time consuming task.

The vast number of variables and permutations require that automated system be reprogrammed and optimized for each serial dilution routine. The Serial Dilution module solves this problem as it provides a quick and easy way to direct the automation of any serial dilution paradigm. The serial dilution module provides for current dilution schemes to be easily modified with subtle adjustments or completely revamped with quick changes to labware types, source and destination locales and altered dilution schemes all within a single AutoPilot protocol step.

PK: Preparation of biological samples for PK/PD analyses presents both technical and logistic challenges. Previous efforts to automate this science have focused on worklist driven pipetting schemes shifting the scientist’s time requirements from the bench to the production of run specific worklists and programs required for these involved liquid handling routines. To circumvent this, the PK module was developed utilizing AutoPilot’s AI to directly interpret LIMS/LIS (e.g. Watson, Gyros) provided specifications easily browsed to with the PK module to dynamically direct all downstream liquid handling.

The PK module independently determines optimal dilution schemes, mixing dynamics, tip usage and final plate aliquoting. This module, taking simple input from the end user scientist, automatically drives liquid handling to perform any or all of 4 processes typically required for PK/PD assays. These include an assay MRD (minimum required dilution), sample dilutions, pre-assay plate formatting and a time=0 stamp onto a final assay plate, all using the laboratories liquid handler. The use of AI eliminates the need for user defined worklists, minimizes human error, and shifts the operator’s time to higher order scientific analyses providing increased value and efficiency. Secure reports are available to capture operational and sample tracking data.

Cherry Picking: The Cherry Picking module is especially useful in high throughput screening laboratories where screening of large libraries result in hits that need to be extracted for further characterization. When scientists are required to manually pick large numbers of hits repetitive stresses, eye fatigue, and simple human error are significant concerns.

The Cherry Picking module interfaces with LIMS/LIS or user defined worklist to identify the location of hits to be picked, the volume of each hit to transfer, and their final destination. AutoPilot then drives all necessary pipetting based on fluid and labware types without any user programming. The Cherry Picking module also permits the mixing of fluids at both the source and destination wells and/or tubes. Secure reports are available to capture operational and sample tracking data.

Genomic DNA Normalization and Aliquoting (gDN/A): The gDN/A module provides a convenient way to automate the normalization of genomic DNA samples with a wide range of starting concentrations. All programming considerations, including variable sample viscosities, are managed autonomously by AutoPilot. This module also allows one to receive samples from a large variety of labware types and transfer them into a standardized labware type(s). The gDN/A module can integrate directly to a LIMS/LIS or accept a user defined file structure to obtain necessary sample data for normalization and or aliquoting. Integration with a wide range of plate readers can provide for a fully automated process including Primary Sample Quantification, Normalization, and Sample QC. All runs produce secure reports including all operational and sample tracking data. The gDN/A module is routinely customized specifically to the end user specifications.